Detection of failures in a telecommunication system

ABSTRACT

Determining a network transmitter that is more likely to cause handoff failures in a telecommunication service based on historical data records. The historical data records may be standard Call Data Records. A probability that a service provided by a first network transmitter will be handoffed to a second network transmitter is determined. An indication that a target network transmitter is overly busy is determined based on the number of failed services for each network transmitter that may handoff a service the target network transmitter and the probability that a service will be handoffed to the target network transmitter. Based on the indication, measures may be taken to increase quality level of the target network transmitter.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to telecommunication systems, and toquality assurance of telecommunication systems, in particular.

In cellular telecommunication systems, an initial base stationcomprising a transmitter provides communication services to cellulardevices in its vicinity. An initial base station is a base station thatprovides the service in the beginning of the service. When a cellulardevice changes its position such that the initial base station can nolonger provide a reasonable service quality, the initial base stationinitiates handoff to a target base station or receives a request for ahandoff from the cellular device. However, the target base station maynot be able to provide the services due to, for example, being overlybusy handling other devices or providing other services. In such ascenario, the handoff fails, and the initial base station continues toprovide the service until it can no longer do so. In some systems, theinitial base station drops a service when signal quality deterioratesbelow a minimal quality threshold.

It will be noted that the above scenario is not limited to a cellulartelecommunication system. Rather, it may occur in any telecommunicationsystem in which an initial transmitter providing a service initiates arequest from a target transmitter to continue providing said service,allowing the initial transmitter to cease providing the service. In thepresent specification, a handoff refers to an operation of transferringan ongoing telecommunication service from a first provider, such as afirst transmitter, to a second provider, such as a second transmitter.

The aforementioned scenario may be resolved by upgrading the target basestation, such that it may be able to cope with a heavier load. In orderto do so, a problematic base station, such as the target base station,needs to be identified. In the present specification, a problematic basestation or problematic network transmitter refers to a base station ornetwork transmitter that regularly does not perform requested handoffs,such as the target base station. Yet, standard Call Data Records (CDRs)do not log failed handoff attempts. Rather, the above scenario may berecorded as a failure of the initial base station to provide theservice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is acomputerized system comprising: an interface to a database; the databasecomprises an at least one data record; the at least one data recordrepresents a first service provided by a telecommunication system; theat least one data record comprises: an indication of a transmitter usedfor providing the first service; and a quality measurement of the firstservice; a transmitter relation module for determining an indication ofa first transmitter providing a second service to initiate a requestfrom a second transmitter to provide the second service; a processor;and a transmitter quality module for determining a quality of serviceprovided by an additional transmitter utilizing the processor; thequality of service is determined based on: the quality measurement of aportion of the at least one data record; and a portion of the indicationdetermined by the transmitter relation.

Another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is a methodcomprising: retrieving an at least one data record from a database; theat least one data record represents a first service provided by atelecommunication system; the at least one data record comprises: anindication of a transmitter used for providing the first service; and aquality measurement of the first service; determining an indication of afirst transmitter providing a second service to initiate a request froma second transmitter to provide the second service; and determining aquality of service provided by an additional transmitter; thedetermining a quality of service provided by the additional transmitteris performed by a processor; the quality of service is determined basedon: the quality measurement of a portion of the at least one datarecord; and a portion of the indication determined by the transmitterrelation; whereby a quality measurement associated with the firsttransmitter is transformed to a quality measurement associated with thesecond transmitter.

Yet another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is acomputer program product comprising: a computer readable medium; firstprogram instruction for retrieving an at least one data record from adatabase; the at least one data record represents a first serviceprovided by a telecommunication system; the at least one data recordcomprises: an indication of a transmitter used for providing the firstservice; and a quality measurement of the first service; second programinstruction for determining an indication of a first transmitterproviding a second service to initiate a request from a secondtransmitter to provide the second service; and third program instructionfor determining a quality of service provided by an additionaltransmitter; the quality of service is determined based on: the qualitymeasurement of a portion of the at least one data record; and a portionof the indication determined by the transmitter relation; wherein thefirst, second and third program instructions are stored on the computerreadable media.

THE BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosed subject matter will be understood and appreciatedmore fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunctionwith the drawings in which corresponding or like numerals or charactersindicate corresponding or like components. Unless indicated otherwise,the drawings provide exemplary embodiments or aspects of the disclosureand do not limit the scope of the disclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows a computerized environment in which the disclosed subjectmatter is used, in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of thesubject matter;

FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a computerized handoff failureidentifier in accordance with some exemplary embodiments of thedisclosed subject matter; and

FIG. 3 shows a flowchart diagram of a method in accordance with someexemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosed subject matter is described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of thesubject matter. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in acomputer-readable medium that can direct a computer or otherprogrammable data processing apparatus to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instruction meanswhich implement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer orother programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series ofoperational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmableapparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that theinstructions which execute on the computer or other programmableapparatus provide processes for implementing the functions/actsspecified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

One technical problem dealt with by the disclosed subject matter is toidentify a transmitter causing handoff failures. Another technicalproblem dealt with by the disclosed subject matter is to identify atransmitter causing handoff failures based on a database of thetelecommunications system, such as a CDR, and without adding monitoringsoftware or hardware.

One technical solution is to determine a transmitter quality of eachtransmitter based on number of services other transmitters failed toprovide. Another technical solution is to determine a relation betweentransmitters to identify a likelihood of a service being provided by afirst transmitter to be handoffed to a second transmitter. Yet anothertechnical solution is to determine the relation based on data in adatabase of the telecommunication system, such as a CDR database.

One technical effect of utilizing the disclosed subject matter isdetermining a quality level of a transmitter. Another technical effectof utilizing the disclosed subject matter is indicating to a user of atransmitter that may not be able to comply with handoff requests. Yetanother technical effect of utilizing the disclosed subject matter is toprovide a graphical representation of a low-quality transmitter.

Referring now to FIG. 1 showing a computerized environment in which thedisclosed subject matter is used, in accordance with some exemplaryembodiments of the subject matter. A computerized environment 100comprises a service provider 110, such as a cellular telecommunicationservice provider. The service provider 110 provides a service to aclient, such as clients 112, 114, 116. The clients may be using a device(not shown), such as a cellular device, a mobile phone, a wirelessPersonal Digital Assistant (PDA), a laptop, WiFi-based apparatus,WiMAX-based device and the like. In some exemplary embodiment, theservice is a data or voice call or any other service provided toclients, such as subscribers, of a telecommunication network.

The computerized environment 100 further comprises network transmitters150, 152, 154, such as for example cellular towers, RF transceivers andthe like. The network transmitters 150, 152, 154 are utilized by theservice provider 110 to provide one or more services to the clients,such as clients 112, 114, 116. In some exemplary embodiments, one ormore of the network transmitters 150, 152, 154 are utilized to provide aservice to a client, such as for example client 112.

The service provider 110 maintains a database 120 comprising datarecords describing services that were provided. In an exemplaryembodiment, the database 120 is maintained for billing purposes orbusiness intelligence purposes. In some exemplary embodiments, the datarecords may be CDRs. In other exemplary embodiments, the data recordscomprise a transmitter field indicating a network transmitter used forproviding the service and a quality field indicating a level of qualityprovided by the network transmitter. In yet other exemplary embodiments,the data records may further comprise a timestamp field indicating thetime in which the service was provided. In an exemplary embodiment, thelevel of quality is either one, indicating a service successfullyprovided or zero, indicating a service not fully provided. In anotherexemplary embodiment, the level of quality is selected from a range ofqualities, such as one to five, one to ten and the like.

The computerized environment further comprises a handoff failureidentifier 130 5 which may be used by a user 140 to determine a qualitylevel of an at least one network transmitter. The handoff failureidentifier 130 determines a quality level of a network transmitter, suchas the network transmitter 150, based on the content of the database120. In some exemplary embodiments, the quality level is determinedbased on feedback from a client, such as client 112, the content of thedatabase 120 and the like.

Referring now to FIG. 2 showing a block diagram of a computerizedhandoff failure identifier in accordance with some exemplary embodimentsof the disclosed subject matter. A computerized handoff failureidentifier 200 may comprise a database interface 210, a transmitterrelation module 230, a transmitter quality module 220 and an outputmodule 240.

The database interface 210 is configured to enable retrieval ofinformation from a database, such as a CDR database 250.

The transmitter relation module 230 is configured to determine arelation between a first network transmitter and a second networktransmitter. In an exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter,the transmitter relation module 230 determines a likelihood of a serviceprovided by the first transmitter to be handoffed to the secondtransmitter. A service is said to be handoffed when the service isprovided to a client using a first network transmitter and it istransferred to a second network transmitter without interrupting theservice. The transmitter relation module 230 may determine thelikelihood based on past call information, such as comprised in the CDRdatabase 250.

In another exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter,geographical information may be utilized to determine the likelihood.For example, in case the first network transmitter is located very farfrom the second network transmitter, for example a thousand km away, itis not likely that the first network transmitter will initiate a handoffrequest from the second network transmitter. In case the firsttransmitter is located near the second network transmitter, for examplewithin reception range of a mobile phone, it is more likely that thehandoff request will occur.

In another exemplary embodiment, demographical information may be usedto determine the likelihood. For example, in case the first networktransmitter is located within a suburb and the second networktransmitter is located in proximity to a road leading out of the suburb,it is likely that during the morning time, when many people arecommuting, the first network transmitter handoff calls to the secondnetwork transmitter. Using demographical information a route people maytake may be approximated and used to determine the likelihood.

In another exemplary embodiments, the likelihood is a probability. Inyet another exemplary embodiment, the probability is calculated based onthe CDRs. The CDRs may indicate a first network transmitter initiallyproviding a service to a call and a second network transmitter providingthe service when the service has ended. Alternatively, the system maytrack where subscribers are receiving consecutive services. For example,in an exemplary cellular service provider, if many customers make a callin cellular cell A and make their next call in cellular cell B, thesystem can deduce that the likelihood for handoff from a firsttransmitter providing the service for cellular cell A to a secondtransmitter providing the service for cellular cell B is high. Using theCDRs it is possible to determine a probability matrix of N×N, where N isthe number of network transmitters. A cell (i,j) in the probabilitymatrix indicates a portion of the calls using initially a networktransmitter i that ended while using a network transmitter j. Bynormalizing absolute numbers, the probabilities may be determined. Insome exemplary embodiments, a cell (i,i) may be zero or may be a valueindicating a portion of service fails that are caused due to a problemwith network transmitter i, and not due to a handoff failure.

The transmitter quality module 220 may determine a quality of a networktransmitter. In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subjectmatter, the quality is determined based on the CDR database 250. Forexample, the transmitter quality module 220 may indicate a number ofservices not fully provided by the network transmitter. In someexemplary embodiments, the transmitter quality module 220 may determinea vector of length N. The vector indicates a number of services notfully provided by each network transmitter (such as for example a celltower).

In yet other exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, thetransmitter quality module 220 may utilize the probability matrixdetermined by the transmitter relation module 230 to determine thequality of the network transmitter. The vector may be multiplied by theprobability matrix to determine an outcome vector. This multiplicationmay be executed multiple times. In an exemplary embodiment, some networktransmitters provide a service in a relative small area. In such anembodiment, it 5 may be likely that a service will be handoffed betweenmore than one pair of network transmitters during a single service. Insuch an exemplary embodiment, the probability matrix may be raised tothe power of a decay factor at each iteration. The decay factor is apositive number smaller than one. By raising the probability matrix tothe power of the decay factor, the probabilities that the service ishandoffed is reduced. The decay factor expresses the reduced probabilitythat a service that was handoffed N times will be handoffed anadditional time. The outcome vector indicates a number of assumedservices that were not provided due to a handoff failure of each networktransmitter. By multiplying the vector with the probability matrix, eachfailed call is said to be passed or forwarded to a next networktransmitter, as it normally (with a known probability) would have. Forexample, in an exemplary scenario, 20% of the calls serviced by a firstnetwork transmitter are directed to a second network transmitter, and80% are directed to a third network transmitter. In case the firstnetwork transmitter was unable to provide service for twenty servicerequests, the second network transmitter is said to have caused fourfailures, and the third network transmitter is said to have causedsixteen failures. In some exemplary embodiments, the probability matrixmay also comprise a portion of the calls that were not handoffed. Forexample, referring again to the aforementioned exemplary scenario, incase 50% of the calls are handoffed, and 50% are not, ten of the failedcalls are attributed to the first network transmitter, two areattributed to the second network transmitter and eight are attributed tothe third network transmitter.

By multiplying the probability matrix with the vector an outcome vectoris determined which indicates for each network transmitter a number offailed services that occurred in one or more near-by networktransmitters that are attributed to a handoff failure of the networktransmitter. A problematic network transmitter that does not enablenear-by network transmitters to handoff services to the problematicnetwork transmitter may be indicated by a relatively large number, suchas any number above a predetermined threshold, associated to it by theoutcome vector. It will be noted that near-by network transmitters arenot necessarily close to each other geographically, but rather it islikely that a service provided by a first network transmitter betransferred to a second network transmitter.

The output module 240 may be utilized to indicate a problematic networktransmitter to a user (not shown). In some exemplary embodiments, theindication is a list of one or more problematic network transmitters.The list may be stored in a computerized device 270 and/or displayed bythe computerized device 270. In another exemplary embodiment, theindication is a graphical display, such as a map, in which a problematicnetwork transmitter is displayed differently than other networktransmitters. For example, the problematic network transmitter may behighlighted, colored, a representing icon may appear blinking and thelike.

In some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, thecomputerized handoff failure identifier 200 further comprises aprocessor 202. The processor 202 is a Central Processing Unit (CPU), amicroprocessor, an electronic circuit, an Integrated Circuit (IC) or thelike. The processor 202 may be utilized to perform computations requiredby the computerized handoff failure identifier 200 or any of itsubcomponents, such as for example the database interface 210, thetransmitter relation module 230, the transmitter quality module 22, theoutput module 240 or any other subcomponent.

Referring now to FIG. 3 showing a flowchart diagram of a method inaccordance with some exemplary embodiments of the disclosed subjectmatter.

In step 310, an at least one data record in a CDR database, such as 250of FIG. 2, is retrieved. The retrieval may be performed by a databaseinterface, such as 210 of FIG. 2. In some exemplary embodiments, the atleast one data record may comprise a portion of the CDR databaserepresenting a predetermined time-frame. The time-frame may becontinuous or non-continuous. For example, the at least one data recordmay comprise CDR database records relating to a specific day, week, yearand the like. Alternatively, the at least one data record may compriseCDR database records relating to a predetermined two hours of a daywithin a specific date range. For example, all CDR database recordsrelating to services provided between two pm and four pm inpredetermined four days. By selecting a portion of the CDR databasedifferent problems may be discovered, such as overloads occurring duringmorning rush-hour, weekdays, holidays and the like.

In step 320, a probability matrix is determined. The probability matrixindicates a probability of a service being provided by a first networktransmitter to be transferred to a second network transmitter. In anexemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter, the probabilitymatrix is determined based on the at least one data record. The at leastone data record may comprise information regarding a specific servicethat a first network transmitter initially provided and a second networktransmitter eventually provided. Hence, the at least one data recordindicates a handoff requested by the first network transmitter from thesecond network transmitter. In an exemplary embodiment, the number ofservices initially provided by a first network transmitter andeventually provided by a second network transmitter is counted. A matrixcomprising a count for each pair of network transmitters is determinedand normalized to determine the probability matrix.

In step 330, a number of services that were not fully provided by eachnetwork transmitter is determined. The number may be determined based onthe at least one data record. A vector is computed based on the numberof services. It will be noted that in some exemplary embodiments, only aportion of the network transmitters is evaluated to decrease computationtime, to focus on problematic network transmitters, to ignorepredetermined network transmitters and for other similar reasons.

In step 340, the vector is multiplied with the probability matrix and anoutcome vector is determined.

In step 350, the outcome vector is inspected and a one or moreproblematic network transmitters are identified. In an exemplaryembodiment, a network transmitter having an associated coefficient inthe outcome vector that is greater than a predetermined number isconsidered problematic. In another exemplary embodiment, a networktransmitter having an associated coefficient in the outcome vector thatis greater than a median, average or the like of the coefficients of theoutcome vector is considered problematic.

In step 355, a list of problematic network transmitter is compiled.

In step 360, the list is stored in a computer readable medium.

In step 370, the list is displayed to a user. The list may be displayedby indicating all problematic network transmitters. For example, thelist may be displayed by writing an identification code for eachproblematic network transmitter. In another exemplary embodiment, thelist may be displayed graphically. For example, the list may bedisplayed on a map representing all network transmitters locationswherein a problematic network transmitter is displayed in a differentmanner than a non-problematic network transmitter.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in theflowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portionof program code, which comprises one or more executable instructions forimplementing the specified logical function(s). It should also be notedthat, in some alternative implementations, the functions noted in theblock may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, twoblocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantiallyconcurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverseorder, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be notedthat each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, andcombinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchartillustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-basedsystems that perform the specified functions or acts, or combinations ofspecial purpose hardware and computer instructions.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. Asused herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify thepresence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements,components, and/or groups thereof.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the disclosed subjectmatter may be embodied as a system, method or computer program product.Accordingly, the disclosed subject matter may take the form of anentirely hardware embodiment, an entirely software embodiment (includingfirmware, resident software, micro-code, etc.) or an embodimentcombining software and hardware aspects that may all generally bereferred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or “system.” Furthermore,the present invention may take the form of a computer program productembodied in any tangible medium of expression having computer-usableprogram code embodied in the medium.

Any combination of one or more computer usable or computer readablemedium(s) may be utilized. The computer-usable or computer-readablemedium may be, for example but not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatus,device, or propagation medium. More specific examples (a non-exhaustivelist) of the computer-readable medium would include the following: anelectrical connection having one or more wires, a portable computerdiskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory(ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flashmemory), an optical fiber, a portable compact disc read-only memory(CDROM), an optical storage device, a transmission media such as thosesupporting the Internet or an intranet, or a magnetic storage device.Note that the computer-usable or computer-readable medium could even bepaper or another suitable medium upon which the program is printed, asthe program can be electronically captured, via, for instance, opticalscanning of the paper or other medium, then compiled, interpreted, orotherwise processed in a suitable manner, if necessary, and then storedin a computer memory. In the context of this document, a computer-usableor computer-readable medium may be any medium that can contain, store,communicate, propagate, or transport the program for use by or inconnection with the instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.The computer-usable medium may include a propagated data signal with thecomputer-usable program code embodied therewith, either in baseband oras part of a carrier wave. The computer usable program code may betransmitted using any appropriate medium, including but not limited towireless, wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, and the like.

Computer program code for carrying out operations of the presentinvention may be written in any combination of one or more programminglanguages, including an object oriented programming language such asJava, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional procedural programminglanguages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programminglanguages. The program code may execute entirely on the user's computer,partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alone software package, partlyon the user's computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely onthe remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remotecomputer may be connected to the user's computer through any type ofnetwork, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network(WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (forexample, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider).

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step 5 plus function elements in the claims below are intendedto include any structure, material, or act for performing the functionin combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

1. A computer-implemented method performed by a processor, wherein theprocessor is coupled with a non-transitory computer readable medium, themethod comprising: retrieving an at least one data record from adatabase; the at least one data record represents a first serviceprovided by a telecommunication system; the at least one data recordcomprises: an indication of a transmitter used for providing the firstservice; and a quality measurement of the first service; determining anindication of a first transmitter providing a second service to initiatea request from a second transmitter to provide the second service,wherein the indication is a probability of the first transmitter toinitiate the request from the second transmitter; determining aprobability matrix; determining a vector comprising at least onecoefficient; the at least one coefficient is a number of servicerequests not fully provided; determining a quality of service providedby an additional transmitter, wherein the quality of service provided bythe additional transmitter is a number of service requests not fullyprovided; the quality of service is determined based on: the qualitymeasurement of a portion of the at least one data record; and theindication; wherein said determining the quality of service is performedby multiplying the probability matrix with the vector; and whereby aquality measurement associated with the first transmitter is transformedto a quality measurement associated with the second transmitter.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, wherein the indication of the first transmitter toinitiate the request from the second transmitter is determined using theat least one data record.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein theindication of the first transmitter to initiate the request from thesecond transmitter is determined using information associated with atransmitter.
 4. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing thedetermined quality of service in a map comprising an indication of a lowquality transmitter.
 5. The method of claim 3, wherein the informationassociated with the transmitter is selected from the group consisting ofgeographical information and demographical information.
 6. The method ofclaim 4, wherein the telecommunication system is a cellularcommunication system; and wherein the at least one data record is a CallDetail Record.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the telecommunicationsystem is a wireless communication system.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the wireless communication system is a cellular communicationsystem.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the at least one data recordis a Call Detail Record.
 10. A computerized apparatus, the apparatuscomprising a processor which is coupled with a non-transitory computerreadable medium, the processor is arranged to: retrieve an at least onedata record from a database; the at least one data record represents afirst service provided by a telecommunication system; the at least onedata record comprises: an indication of a transmitter used for providingthe first service; and a quality measurement of the first service;determine an indication of a first transmitter providing a secondservice to initiate a request from a second transmitter to provide thesecond service, wherein the indication is a probability of the firsttransmitter to initiate the request from the second transmitter;determine a probability matrix; determine a vector comprising at leastone coefficient; the at least one coefficient is a number of servicerequests not fully provided; determine a quality of service provided byan additional transmitter, wherein the quality of service provided bythe additional transmitter is a number of service requests not fullyprovided; the quality of service is determined based on: the qualitymeasurement of a portion of the at least one data record; and theindication; wherein determining the quality of service is performed bymultiplying the probability matrix with the vector; and whereby aquality measurement associated with the first transmitter is transformedto a quality measurement associated with the second transmitter.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein the indication of the first transmitterto initiate the request from the second transmitter is determined usingthe at least one data record.
 12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein theindication of the first transmitter to initiate the request from thesecond transmitter is determined using information associated with atransmitter.
 13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said processor isarranged to store the determined quality of service in a map comprisingan indication of a low quality transmitter.
 14. The apparatus of claim10, wherein the telecommunication system is a wireless communicationsystem.
 15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the wirelesscommunication system is a cellular communication system.
 16. Theapparatus of claim 15, wherein the at least one data record is a CallDetail Record.
 17. A computer program product, said computer programproduct comprising a non-transitory computer readable medium, in whichcomputer instructions are stored, which instructions, when read by acomputer, cause the computer to: retrieve an at least one data recordfrom a database; the at least one data record represents a first serviceprovided by a telecommunication system; the at least one data recordcomprises: an indication of a transmitter used for providing the firstservice; and a quality measurement of the first service; determine anindication of a first transmitter providing a second service to initiatea request from a second transmitter to provide the second service,wherein the indication is a probability of the first transmitter toinitiate the request from the second transmitter; determine aprobability matrix; determine a vector comprising at least onecoefficient; the at least one coefficient is a number of servicerequests not fully provided; determine a quality of service provided byan additional transmitter, wherein the quality of service provided bythe additional transmitter is a number of service requests not fullyprovided; the quality of service is determined based on: the qualitymeasurement of a portion of the at least one data record; and theindication; wherein determining the quality of service is performed bymultiplying the probability matrix with the vector; and whereby aquality measurement associated with the first transmitter is transformedto a quality measurement associated with the second transmitter.
 18. Thecomputer program product of claim 17, wherein the indication of thefirst transmitter to initiate the request from the second transmitter isdetermined using the at least one data record.
 19. The computer programproduct of claim 17, wherein the indication of the first transmitter toinitiate the request from the second transmitter is determined usinginformation associated with a transmitter.
 20. The computer programproduct of claim 17, wherein the telecommunication system is a cellularcommunication system; and wherein the at least one data record is a CallDetail Record.